Electric switch



June 9, 1942.

H. EISNER ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 24. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Era ATT DRNEY June 9, 1942.

ELECTRIC SWITCH H. EISNER 2,285,916

Filed Feb. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Imnsmwm FARR) Exam-2e BY 52 Z 2 Z:

A'r'runnvr Patented June 9, 1942 ELECTRIC SWITCH Harry Eisner, Union Springs, N. Y., assignor to General Products Corporation, Union Springs, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 24, 1941, Serial No. 380,166

1 Claim.

My invention is concerned with improvements in a foot operated switch for use in an automobile to control the headlights for so-called dim and bright operation.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simplified mechanism for a plunger operated single pole double throw switch.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and positive self-centering means for a pivoted plunger finger in a plunger operated switch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a single oscillating member which combines the function of a cam, a circuit bridging member and a locking member.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is an elevation of the switch incorporating my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, showing the interior mechanism of the switch in plan, part being in section and parts being broken away.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line -l4 of Figure 3, parts being broken away.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, parts being broken away.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3, parts being broken away.

Figure 7 is an exploded View in perspective of the oscillating member, showing the relation of the various parts.

Figure 8 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, showing the method of inserting the plunger into the switch case.

Figure 9 is a front view of Figure 8 showing how the plunger is locked in place after being inserted.

Figure 10 is an exploded perspective View, part being broken away, of the plunger and plunger finger.

Referring now to Figure 1, H is a base plate having an upstanding tubular portion l2 which may be formed integrally therewith or attached by suitable means. Switch case I3 is preferably formed of some insulating material, such as Bakelite, and is generally oblong in shape, having a rounded end portion l4. One side wall of the case I3 is thickened, as at l5, and provided with a tapped hole I6 for securing a metallug ii thereto by means of the screw H3. The lug ll is secured to the base plate II by suitable means, such as the bolt and nut I9. The upper side of the case I3 is left open and is recessed around the side walls, as at 20, for a purpose presently to be described.

A plurality of tapped recesses 2| is provided to receive the cover fastening screws 22. The interior of the case I3 is partially divided into two chambers 23 and 24 by the ribs 25. The rounded end portion M of the case I3 is thickened by the inwardly projecting portions 26 and 21. Outwardly projecting recesses 28 are provided for a purpose presently to be described. The upper end of the case I3 is provided with an opening 30.

A cover 35, also of insulating material, is provided. The cover 35 has an inwardly projecting portion 36 which fits into the recessed portion of the case IS. The inner side of the cover has a downwardly projecting portion 31 which extends toward the bottom of the case l3 for a purpose presently to be described. Adjacent the upper end of the cover 35 are two inwardly projecting guide members 39 and 40. These guide members extend downwardly and contact the bottom of the case I3 when the cover is assembled. The guide members 39 and 40 are spaced apart to leave a slot 45. The inner walls 45 of the guide members 39 and 40 are curved toward each other so that the slot 45 is wider at the lower side than at the upper side.

Mounted on the case 35 are the three contact members 50, 5| and 52. Contact members 50, 5i and 52 project through the cover 35 and are provided at the inside with the rounded heads 53, 54 and 55, respectively. Wire connecting lugs 56, 51 and 58, located on the outside of the cover 35, are suitably fastened to the respective contact members.

Within the chamber 24 is mounted an oscillating member 65. The oscillating member comprises a cam member Bl, a bowed spring 62, an insulating block 63 and a contact plate 64. The cam member BI is preferably formed by metal stamping and comprises the bar 65 which is provided with a circular aperture 66 located intermediate the ends thereof. The upper surface of the bar 65 is provided with two inwardly slanting surfaces 6'! and 68 which meet directly above the center of the aperture 66. The upwardly and outwardly slanting surfaces 69 and 10 extend from the lower outer ends of the surfaces 61 and 63 to join the upper surface ll of the bar 65. The side of the bar 65 opposite the surfaces 61 and 68 is extended downwardly to form the finger 72. The lower end of the finger I2 is turned over at right angles thereto, as at 13.

Extending outward from the face of the bar 65 are two supporting pins 15 located toward the outer ends of the bar 55. The supporting pins 15 are permanently fastened in the bar 65 in any suitable manner. The bowed spring 62 is provided with notches 16 which are adapted to receive the pins 15 so that the spring 62 may be mounted thereon. The upper edge of the spring 62 is notched out, as at Tl, to conform to the general shape of the upper surface of the bar 65.

The insulating block 63 is generally triangular in shape, having the ends thereof rounded to conform to the shape of the bar 65, the upper edge of the member 63 being likewise notched out to conform generally with the shape of the upper edge of the bar 65. The lower portion of the in-' sulating member 63 is stepped inwardly, as at 80, to receive the metallic member 64. The insulating block 63 is provided with apertures 8I adapted to loosely receive the supporting pins 15 of bar 65. A second pair of apertures 82 is provided to receive lugs 83 pressed inwardly from the member 64. The lugs 83, pressed into the aperture 62, secure the plate 64 to the insulating member 63.

In assembling, the, plate 64 is first fastened to the insulating block 63 by means of the lugs 83. The spring 62 is then placed over the pins I5 and the block 63 is then assembled on the pins I5.

It is thus seen that although the insulating block and its plate 64 are constrained by the pins I5 to oscillate with the member 6|, the spring 62 presses the insulating block outwardly. The

entire assembly is mounted on the pivot pin 85 which is suitably secured in the bottom of the case I3.

A bowed spring 88, having retroverted ends 89, is mounted in the lower chamber 24 and secured in place by means of the recesses 28. The portion I3 of the member 6I contacts the spring 88 and as the member 60 is oscillated from one position to the other, the portion I3 slides over the spring member 88 and in the extreme positions, the spring 88 resiliently retains the member 60 in such positions. Movement of the member 60 is limited by the contact of the shoulders 89 with the ribs 25 of the case I3.

The plunger mechanism for operating the oscillating member 60 comprises a fiat bar I which is fastened at the outer end to the cap IOI. The cap ml is slightly larger in diameter than the barrel I2 and is free to slide downwardly over the barrel I2. A coil spring I02 contained within the barrel I2 resiliently urges the cap IOI and associated plunger I00 to an outward position. The inner end of the plunger I00 is provided with the laterally extending shoulders I03. A finger I 05, best seen in Figures 3 and 10-, is pivotally mounted adjacent the inner end of the plunger I00 by means of the pin I06. The lower or outer end of the finger I05 is tapered and brought to a rounded point I01. Intermediate the ends of the finger I05 and projecting laterally therefrom are the camming surfaces I08.

The plate I I is provided with a T-shaped open ing H0, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. In assembling the plunger mechanism, the finger I05 is first pivotally fastened to the member I00 by means of the pin I06. The plunger assembly is then fastened to the cap WI. The spring I02 is inserted in the barrel I2. The plunger and cap assembly is then pushed inwardly so that the shoulders I03 of the member I00 pass through the T of the T-slot H0. The plunger assembly is then given a half twist, as shown in Figure 9, whereupon the shoulders I03 retain the entire assembly within the barrel I2. The case I3 is then fastened to the plate II by means of the bolt I9. The plunger is then pressed inwardly as far as possible in order that the shoulders I03 will be below the guide members 39 and 40 when the cover is put in place. The cover is then put on and fastened by means of the screws 22, and the plunger released. The mechanism then assumes the position shown in Figure 3. The spring 62 of the oscillating assembly 60 resiliently presses the block 63 and plate 64 into contact with the contact points 53 and 55.

The projection 31 of the cover, together with the bottom surface III of the case I3, maintains the finger I05 in vertical alignment with the member (H, as illustrated in Figure 5.

When the spring I 02 presses the plunger mechanism outwardly, the surfaces 46 of the guide members 39 and 40 cooperate with the camming surfaces I08 of the pin I05 to bring the finger I05 into vertical alignment with the center of the pivot 85.

When the plunger is depressed, the finger I05 moves downwardly to contact the cam surface 68, as shown in Figure 3. The cam surface causes the pin I05 to slide outwardly until it strikes the bottom of the surface 68 where it meets the surface I0. Further depression of the plunger will cause the member 60 to rotate on the pin from the position shown in Figure 3 to a position where the left shoulder 89 comes to rest against the left rib 25. Upon the release of the plunger, the spring I02 moves the plunger outwardly to the normal position.

The surfaces 46 of the guide members 39 and 40 cooperate with the surfaces I08 of the finger I05 to realign the finger I05 with the center of the pivot 85. Subsequent depression of the plunger will cause the finger I05 to engage the cam surface 61 and rotate the oscillating member 60 back to the position shown in Figure 3.

In the position shown in Figure 3, the plate 64 of the oscillating member 60 makes electrical contact between the contacts 53 and 55. When the oscillating member is moved to the opposite position, contact is made between the contacts 54 and 55. It is thus seen that successive operations of the plunger I00 cause the circuits to be made alternately between the contacts 55 and 53, and 55 and 54.

I claim:

In a plunger operated single pole double throw switch having a case and three contact points mounted in said case for controlling two circuits, the combination of a pivoted member adapted to assume either One of two positions, a pivot intermediate the ends of said pivoted member mounted in said case, said pivoted member being provided with a pair of contiguous cam surfaces located at either side of said pivot and meeting above said pivot, an arm formed integrally with said pivoted member and extending at right angles thereto from, the side away from said cam surfaces, a pair of support pins positioned adjacent the ends of said pivoted member and extending upward at right angles from the surface thereof, a spring member loosely mounted on said support pins, an insulating block, a pair of holes in said block adapted to slidably receive said support pins, a metallic bridge member fastened to the outer face of said insulating block, said bridge being adapted to close a circuit between one pair of contacts when in one position of the pivoted member and to close-a circuit between one of said contacts and the third contact when in the second position of said pivoted member, a second spring member adapted to engage said pivoted member arm and resiliently hold said pivoted member in either one of said positions and a plunger adapt-ed alternately to engage said camming surfaces on successive operations of said plunger to move said pivoted member from one position to the other.

HARRY EISNER. 

